Field, "being angry to be stayed upon so frivolous a demand, answered, that he might see what play was to be played upon every post.

'I cry you mercy,' said the gentleman.

'I took you for a post, you rode so fast.'" It is strange to find that the right of printing playbills was originally monopolised by the Stationers' Company.

At a later period, however, the privilege was assumed and exercised by the Crown.

In 1620, James I.granted a patent to Roger Wood and Thomas Symcock for the sole printing, among other things, of "all bills for playes, pastimes, showes, challenges, prizes, or sportes whatsoever." It was not until after the Restoration that the playbills contained a list of the _dramatis personae_, or of the names of the actors.